WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LIGHT AND SALT, PART 2

WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LIGHT AND SALT. Part 2 I stopped last time by writing that light might become dark and dark might become light. I mentioned that those of us that had been walking in the light, could fall in sin and the sin and the darkness could get hold of us and lead us astray. On the contrary, I am so glad that many who have lived in darkness are coming to the Light. A lot Is depending on us Christians. Do we live in the Light and do we allow the light in us to shine through us? Many who have been deeply into dark activities are finding Jesus. It might be drug addicts, alcoholics, criminals or Satanists or just the proud ones or those living in self-righteousness. Everybody needs Jesus as their Savior and Lord and we want as many as possible with us to Heaven. This time we might start with Matthew 5: 13-16. The headline in my Bible is: The believers are salt and light. This scripture is the inspiration for the head line. “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing, but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” I do not think that food without salt is very tasty. Salt is an important part of making food taste good. Salt was in the old days used for preserving the food. It stops being ruined and non-eatable. This scripture is actually saying that we are good for nothing if we do not have the power of the salt. Many are today seeking experiences and they might seek the occult in order to have these spiritual experiences. This is happening even among Christians. They seek peace and help. This is making me sad and I believe that God is sad as well. Many do not know the root of the things they participate in. Many believe that yoga is gymnastics and do not know that each movement is made to worship a foreign god. Yoga has its roots in Hinduism. Others are seeking healers and might become better, but the healer will not point to the Cross as the source of healing. Today many practice mindfulness. One is supposed to be emptied. I believe that we should get rid of a lot of garbage. I do believe that the Lord will heal us from old wounds and I believe in sanctification, but we need to be filled with Him, the Word and the Spirit. The more we are filled with Him, the more we become like Jesus. I believe that if we Christians are so filled with the power of God that signs and wonders were following us and if people got healed when we lay hands on them, people would be drawn to us. The problem is that we have been so influenced by humanism that we do not preach about sin and grace the way we did before.  I do not mean that we should scare people to come to Christ, but we should preach a true and clear gospel. When non- believers get healed, they understand that God is real. They get stunned by His goodness. Mark 16 is writing about those signs that should follow us, but do they follow? Many do not speak in tongues and not everybody is driving out demons or lay hands on the sick.  If there is no difference between us and those in the world, we have lost the power of the salt.  Verse 13 describes what will happen then. The next verse is saying that we are the light of the world and a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. We shouldn’t put a light under a basket either, but on a lampstand. In this scripture the light is compared with good deeds in order for everybody to see them and so our Father in heaven can be honored. We are really encouraged to be seen and I do believe that we Christians have been hiding behind safe church walls far too long. We have had meetings in order to fill ourselves and we have been thinking that people should come to us. Since we have had a focus on ourselves, only a few have come from the outside. Others think that being a Christian is a private thing. According to the Bible we should be seen. I am longing for people to see Jesus in me. Some do, but I need more sanctification.   We will continue in the gospel of Matthew 10:27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.” He is really saying that we should not keep things for our own enjoyment, but share it with others in order for them to share it with others. It will be like a domino-effect. I am like a child and I share things quickly with you and my family and friends. We must turn our eyes on Jesus and away from ourselves. We have to see those outside our own living-room window. I want to see even further to other countries.  That’s the missionary in me. We are all missionaries, but we are not sent to the same places. You might not be sent far away, but to your own working place, your own family, your neighbors or your own city. Jesus is the light of the world. We might turn to Luke, the second chapter. We read about a man with the name Simeon. He was led by the Holy Spirit into the temple when Mary and Joseph came with Jesus to be circumcised. He took Jesus in his arms and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word. For my eyes have seen Your salvation. Which You have prepared before the face of all people. A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” Jesus should therefore be a blessing to both the Jews and the Gentiles. John, called John the Baptist, is saying about himself in John 1:8 that he is not the light, but is sent to bear witness of the Light. He knew his calling and didn’t try to be something else. Jesus says in John 8:12: I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Jesus also knew His calling. He should become the Savior of the entire world and the hope for humanity. He said that when we follow Him, we should not walk in darkness. We are supposed to be the light and hope for people today since we have Jesus living inside of us. The dark will get darker, but the light will shine more clear than ever. Many politicians do not know how to solve the many crises we have today. People are afraid because of increased terror, conflicts, hunger, earthquakes etc. Can we find a safe place anywhere in the world? I do know that some people are killed as martyrs, but I really want to say that there is no safer place than hiding in Him. Paul is saying that we should preach the gospel for the non-believers. He also writes that we should preach for the Jews. We must point to the Cross as God’s power for salvation. We must stop saying that it is cool to come to Jesus. People are giving their lives for His name. We must count the cost. The devil is not always letting go so easily, but following Jesus is the best thing one can ever do. In Paul’s letters we read that what has been in darkness, shall be revealed. A lot of those things are happening today. The light of the Lord reveals.  I will close with 2.Cor.4: For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of Jesus Christ.”   LET THE LIGHT SHINE FOR AND THROUGH YOU TO YOUR FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS THIS CHRISTMAS! Mother Else